Buckle.



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Nrrnn STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. SMITH, OF MASSAPEAG, CONNECTICUT.

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SEEGILFECAHON forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,402, dated August 27, 1901.

pplication filed .Tune 15, 1901. i Serial No. 64,707. (No model.)

T0 all wiz/0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Massapeag, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the class of buckles of the twin or duplex type comprising a frame and oppositely-extending tongues, and has for its object to facilitate the attachment of the tongues and to cheapen the construction, tongue-supporting cross-bars being dispensed with and the tongues being in the nature of frames and one forming a support for the other.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of lthe means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

Vhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily sus- Aeeptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view of a buckle embodying the invention, a portion being in section to show the manner of connecting the tongues to each other and to the buckle-frame.

.portions in different planes. The middle portion of the longitudinal bars besides being offsetis widened and is provided with an opening 2 for the reception of a journal 3 of a tongue. An intermediate cross-bar 4. constitutes a keeper for, the loose ends of the 5o straps o and 6, attached toopposite ends of the buckle. The tongues 7 and 8 are of similar formation and appear as frames of approximately V form, the side members being adapted to be pressed inward and to spring outward, this being essential in order to provide for a ready attachment of the tongues to the frame and a removal of the tongues from the said frame when desired for any purpose. These tongues may be constructed either of wire or struck from sheet metal or cast, as found most advantageous. The side members of the tongue 7 have outwardly-extending ends 9, which form journals, by means of which the tongue is pivotally connected to the longitudinal bars of the buckle-frame. The outer end portions 3 of the bent ends 9 are reduced to enter the openings 2 in the side bars of the frame 1, and shoulders 11 are'formed at theinner ends of the reduced parts 3 to limit the outward movement of the side members of the tongue Zand to limit the inward movement of the side members of the tongue 8, and which members have eyes at their inner or pivotal ends for the reception of the journals 3. The ends of the side members of the tongue 8 are confined between the shoulders 11 and the inner sides of the 1ongitudinal bars of the buckle-frame, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. The tongues 7 and 8 are fitted together prior to attachment of the tongue 7 to the buckle-frame. The tongues are placed in position by compressing their side members a sufficient dis-l tance to admit of the journals 3 clearing the inner sides of the longitudinal bars o f the buckle-frame, and when the journals 3 and openings 2 are in register the tongues are released, and their side members springing outward cause the journals 3 to enter the openings 2 and to form the pivot-fastenings between the tongues and the frame and the axis upon which the tongues turn in common.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a buckle, a frame and oppositely4extending tongues coaxially mounted and attached to the side bars of the buckle-frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a buckle, a frame and a tongue having members adapted to be pressed inward IOO and having pivotal connection with the buckleframe, substantially as set forth.

In a buckle, a frame and a tongue of approximately V form, the side members being adapted to be pressed inward and adapted to be pivotally connected to lthe side bars of the buckle-frame, su'bstan-tiall y as set forth.

4. In a buckle, a frame and a tongue of approximately V form having the end portions of its side members bent outwardly to form' journals and pivotal connection with the buckle-f rame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a buckle, a frame, and a tongue of approximately V form having the end portions of its side members outwardly bent and the terminals of the bent. ends reduced to form f journals and having shoulders at the. inner 1 ends of the reduced parts, substantially as JOHN o. SMITH.' [n s.]

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. CoMsTooK, FREDERICK l?. LATIMER. 

